Shin Megami Tensei IV’s Box Art Draws A Line Between Law And Chaos

Doesn’t Walter, the guy on the left, look kind of evil? Shin Megami Tensei IV’s hero stands between him and the innocent looking Jonathan. The Nintendo 3DS game brings back the "law" and "chaos" archetypes for players to side with. Did Atlus just reveal who is on which side?

On a side note. Ever read some of the official interpretations of some angels?

When you read that a high rank angel has something along the lines of 5+ heads. You start wondering a few things…

http://thespellcraftcolumn.wordpress.com Rudolph Consuegra

Yeah but generally the angels are robotic. These… not so much. Besides, they don’t even look Judeo-Christian but more Buddhist or Oriental.

DesmaX

“Shin Megami Tensei IV’s hero stands between him and the innocent looking Jonathan”

Wait… That was a guy?

http://www.facebook.com/jefriputra Jeff

i thought he was avatar korra when first saw him lol

Blesmi

Wait, Sid Vicious was Chaos? WHOA WHO WOULDA THOUGHT!

revenent hell

“Box Art Spoiler”?…I think I will stay neutral given the options here.

MiniTaurus

that law side looks kinda dark, imho XD

CirnoTheStrongest

yeah, gives off a very creepy cult gonna kill everyone sort of feel.

07thCrow

I think the law path is more “let’s take away everyone’s free will and individuality!” than kill everyone; that sounds more like the neutral path.

Testsubject909

Since when has a law side in SMT not been kinda dark?

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

I wonder where that leaves Isabeau and Navarre. Something to note is that Navarre was suspiciously mentioned along with the demons in the Famitsu reveal a few months ago. Whether that was just a formatting thing or a hint at something remains to be seen.

Tom_Phoenix

Isabeau is obviously the Heroine, meaning she will follow the MC no matter what path he chooses.

Although, I have to say, while I don’t mind the fact that this game is following a more conventional representation of Law vs. Chaos, I do hope it will still have more than three endings.

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

That would be nice, yeah. Also… it would be tremendously disappointing if Isabeau just tagged along for the ride without playing much of a role in the conflict. The fact that she isn’t on the box is making me a little worried about her importance.

http://thespellcraftcolumn.wordpress.com Rudolph Consuegra

Could she be Neutral like Gore? Nevarre also isn’t exactly a human name…

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

I thought she would be neutral, too, until Tom mentioned the possibility of her siding with you no matter what. But then again, Navarre sounds like he would fit into the neutral role as well…

Brandon001

I want this so bad, love the art, its perfect

Raphael Mijeno

would´ve preferred an SMT4 designed by Kaneko

Junko Enoshima

Honestly, I’m kind of liking this a bit more. Sure, Kaneko is killer when it comes to art, but this is a refreshing change.

jeka69

Yeah, this cover looks like it’s coming from shonen manga cover or something. Not that it’s bad though, just as Tatsuya says, it’s a refreshing change.

In Japan, it’s rated “12 and up.” In America it’s rated “M for Mature,” but that’s a spinoff.

This marks the first main entry in SMT to get a “15 and up” rating.

Zenthos

From the themes of the box art, I already know this is going to have a mature and exiting story line with multiple twists.

Mrgrgr and Unacceptable World

I…… i don’t think both of those side is a true “good” route lol.^_^

Shinra

They never are, NEVER, neither Law nor Chaos and Neutral is… well…

Testsubject909

Let’s just say that it’s a matter of how much red you want on your hands.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dylan-Ng/100000854638739 Dylan Ng

Well there the Ronaldo route in DeSu 2…… And Amane route in DeSu doesn’t look too bad too…

Mrgrgr and Unacceptable World

I never consider Ronaldo route as a good route though. While it is good for the present, the future is just soooo dark.T_T
Anguished One path however is a really nice path if you asked me.^_^

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dylan-Ng/100000854638739 Dylan Ng

At least their future will be a better place than our’s one. No more war & every1 helping each other out. Compare to world peace, I think some slow down in scientific progress is a worthy substitute.

komiko12

Individuality is lost in Ronaldo’s route. I can’t accept that ending because for me, individuality is one of man’s greatest blessings.

http://thespellcraftcolumn.wordpress.com Rudolph Consuegra

It’s only because a petty grudge. For some detective, you’d think he’d look into the murder more. At least his supporters are very likeable and make you want to do his route so you save yourself some trouble in the museum and the park. Yamato’s ending is just as bad. We don’t even know what happens to the rest of the world.

komiko12

I know.. he hated Yamato but he didn’t have any concrete proof that his superior was killed. I had doubts about whether he truly wanted Meritocracy because for the most part of the game he was just all “JPs is evil” when he was pretty violent himself. Then he can kill Makoto and is apparently fine with it.. If they ever make an Overclock version, I hope that they alter his personality a bit..

Yes Yamato’s ending is also as bad. As Hinako said they are both too extreme.

Isaac Newton

why is that i feel like the past cver of smt was more awesome smt 1 and 2 you know a full body shot of the mc’s plus almost all the demon. Well is awesome also his face only plus the dark color bring the creepyness. well this smt 4 cover need to like smt 1 and 2 IMHO only

Solomon_Kano

This looks awesome.

Also: black case. I love when games have special cases.

http://www.cubiz.tk/ Auragar

Has the US gotten a black case yet?

Solomon_Kano

No, not yet. Even Pandora’s Tower over on the Wii is coming in a plain white one.

http://www.cubiz.tk/ Auragar

Boo. xD

http://www.cubiz.tk/ Auragar

I think it looks pretty cool.

LightZero

Badass box art I look forward to having it in my collection whenever it’s localize.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dylan-Ng/100000854638739 Dylan Ng

Wow… tht one of the most spoilerific SMT cover….. Unless the cover is lying to us.

Still sticking to neutral. Chaos look too evil for me and Law looks too creepy….. Unless its Ronaldo route type which I am OK with.

Testsubject909

Well, I just made up a story off the top of my head above but there can be a way for those roles to be reversed.

As I said, someone who wants a dictatorship or something along those lines. Such a goal requires full control and control would create order, order is law.

The other would aim for complete freedom and in freedom you find liberty and the peace to seek out your goals, desires and ambitions, freedom and liberty is good right? But pending your views of such ideas, freedom and liberty would apply more to chaos then law, as law tends to have binding effects whereas freedom and liberty to higher extent would necessitate the removal of that which binds.

komiko12

There was something just something disturbing on Ronaldo’s route

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dylan-Ng/100000854638739 Dylan Ng

I’m curious, wht your interpretation/opinion on Ronaldo route?

komiko12

In Ronaldo’s ending, mankind becomes a slave to society. Each man will only think of helping others that they lose their sense of self. They would have some sort of hive mind and shall be just like ants.

As I said, petty grudge. It’s Keisuke’s route anyways just backed by a lazy bum with a nice suit, a nurse and dedicated mother, and a girl with daddy issues connected to this psycho.

http://thespellcraftcolumn.wordpress.com Rudolph Consuegra

At least Ronaldo wasn’t a killer Fred Phelps or Rob Paterson type. He just lacks a single brain cell to the point that one of the seemingly dumbest characters helps/babysits him despite only being a year younger.

komiko12

Joe is just a reasonable guy. His laziness can counter the stupidity and hot headedness of Ronaldo.

http://thespellcraftcolumn.wordpress.com Rudolph Consuegra

He and Otome are the only reasons I did Ronaldo’s route first. Why couldn’t Airi die in Otome’s place? What would happen to her daughter?

komiko12

I dunno.. maybe they were fond of Airi?

It is interesting that the only characters that don’t receive a Death Clip or don’t die throughout the game are girls…
Fumi, Airi, and Hinako (well Daichi can’t die but he receives a Death Clip).

Lazulis

Well, when you play the game it’s always pretty obvious who Law and Chaos are. Come over to the US with your pretty 3DS XL. I will preorder and live off pb & j if I have to.

riceisnice

Gee, I wonder how many of my former allies will I be killing before I get the neutral ending.

I just completely rewired my thoughts and now I just stopped to think for a moment “The guy on the right is cute?” but then I remembered, no that’s just a story I made up in my head.

Nightmesh

._. Not sure I follow?

Testsubject909

Just, for a moment, I thought you said the guy on the right was cute because just before reading your comment, I made up a story on how the guy on the left was the Law aligned guy and the guy on the right was the Chaos aligned guy.

I still stand by how it makes sense. I’ll repeat I guess if you only read this reply:

Guy on the left: Dictatorship or any sort of totalitarian control. Completely order and profit and he stands to be at the top. Use those disturbing demons as enforcers of your law and badabing badaboom. You got an “evil” Law character.

Guy on the right: Complete Liberty and Freedom with complete disregard to the consequences, focusing entirely on the concept of free will for all despite all the chaos that it would bring. Yes, it’s going to sound very hippy and it will most likely cause a lot of trouble… Well, it’s not as if the demons behind him look any good, and voila. You got yourself a “good” chaos character.

And I put quotation marks for a reason. There are ways to build it up to the point where they really are just shades of grey. But yeah…

MrRobbyM

That’s some nice box art.

AkuLord3

Though We all know Law is the true evil so it looks all innocent but then…

Testsubject909

Which is to say, it makes me sort of wish that the evil looking dude is Law while the not evil looking dude is chaos.

Think about it this way as you look at them:

Left: Vicious businessman, order is efficiency, efficiency makes better production, better production means more profit and profit is good to all and can only be maintained if perfect order is set, if one controls that perfect order, one controls a great profit. Obviously, the method and means here and ideology applied would fit Law more then Chaos.

Right: Freedom and liberty, you cannot allow yourself to be shackled by the system and to be turned into a mindless drone with no thought or will of your own, to support your own personal path there comes a time when you need to rebel against the established order and with no other means of truly being you, the law must be taken down to pave the way for each and every individual to be as they please and to be true to themselves. This ideology would fit Chaos far more then Law.

Yup… That’s how I’m going to look at this box art from now on.

Edit: And also, what better way then to maintain control and establish your order then to have some of the more threatening demons policing your subjects?

Ninten

Zelenin creeped me out with the Law side, so not doing it this time.

Ethan_Twain

I found myself agreeing with Jiminez almost all the time myself, and that was cool and all right up until he got to the part where he concluded his reasoning “therefore, all of humanity must burn” in the last 15% of the game. I was kinda locked into the path at that point though :(

http://thespellcraftcolumn.wordpress.com Rudolph Consuegra

Remember he wasn’t even human. Amane’s the only Law representative with a single brain cell, even more than Lady Gaga. I hope Jonathan has a brain in that fluffy head of his.

http://thespellcraftcolumn.wordpress.com Rudolph Consuegra

All because of a panic attack… And then started dressing like a certain steak-wearing diva.

gamerdude

I can’t wait to buy this on my REGION LOCKED 3ds in europe…hint hint.
It still would be weird for atlus to rely on other publishers to bring even their crown jewel to EU instead of finally doing it themselves.

http://profiles.google.com/dnlblue Daniel blue

Atlus doesn’t have a European branch, that’s why other publishers handle their games in the region.

JohnNiles

I’m basically approaching the Law and Chaos routes the way I do our 2-party political system: Lawful Asshole vs. Chaotic Asshole.

Detrimont

plot twist, jonathan ends up being chaos and walter ends up being Law

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dylan-Ng/100000854638739 Dylan Ng

WAHT A TWEST

http://www.facebook.com/charles.parker.5682 Charles Parker

Makes me wonder who the mascot for the neutral path will be. Neutral path tends to be canon so you could say the protagonist but there’s always someone to guide you along that path like Commander Gore from Strange Journey. That’s how it works. Two friends that let the world change them, and one that doesn’t let you forget why you started out in the first place.

Ethan_Twain

In the trailer Siliconera just put up there’s a female character who isn’t in the box art and isn’t clearly getting assigned to either alignment. My money is on her playing neutral guide. My money is also on her dying.

http://thespellcraftcolumn.wordpress.com Rudolph Consuegra

I’m betting Isabeau although she could just be the heroine/Atsuro/Arthur who sides with you no matter what.

kaizin

I like the art for both sides but like always going to go neutral and laugh in chaos and orders face as a defeat there demons. cant wait to see more news on this.

neetyneety

Umm, you know what, staying in the middle actually seems like an appealing choice.

Yuriangels

oooooo the girl looks so sweet and innocent. she just can’t be evil right guys?

Ethan_Twain

That’s what I thought, and then I read the article to learn that it’s actually a guy. Which is a mistake I also made with the protagonist of this game :(

imaguni

Walter and Jonafro’s faction allegiances were so obvious the box art might as well just tell you right away, lol. Great art though! Wonder how Jonafro’s Law nature will manifest since he was made out to me more of a peace-loving, pro-negotiation guy.

Ethan_Twain

I wonder if all the law/chaos emphasis in the marketing and now the boxart of this game suggests that Atlus is just cooking up three paths for the game (Law/Neutral/Chaos) as opposed to the 5 or 6 that we saw in SMT 3 and also the Devil Survivors.

Testsubject909

SMT 3 was nice. Any sort of group or organization, hell, any sort of ideology. Was classified as a form of “Law” ending. It makes sense. If you have a guiding path of any sort, you have some boundaries, boundaries and a certain order means law.

Rejecting all of them and just choosing to wander aimlessly turned into a chaos ending.

Choosing the neutral ending was… Well… Neutral.

And then there was the other Chaos ending, the True Demon ending… Which I love by the way.

Alexander Aubert

where is that girl?

Mrgrgr and Unacceptable World

Hiding behind the MC and preparing her “Keikaku” to make MC join her into the damned Neutral path.^_^

Pockystix

screw law and chaos

Neutral Good all the way

Junko Enoshima

…Yet another reason why I’m getting this game.

Xalsunwolf

Wrong, there is NOTHING HAPPY about the Law side. NOTHING.

On a more serious note though, his pose says more of “a child in a dark and lonely world” then “gay”. Don’t say anything about the character until the game is out.

IshimaruKaito

can i get a AMEN!

puchinri

AMEN!

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